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Parkes Radio Telescope Given Wiradjuri Name Murriyang, Continues Role in Space Missions

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Murriyang: The Parkes Radio Telescope's Legacy and Future

In 2020, the iconic Parkes radio telescope was formally given the Wiradjuri name Murriyang. According to Wiradjuri tradition, Murriyang refers to the 'Skyworld', where the creator spirit Biyaami resides.

Through technical upgrades since its 1961 commissioning, the telescope's sensitivity has been significantly increased. It continues to support international space missions, including NASA's Artemis program, for which Australia is a signatory to the governing accords.

Technical Evolution

The telescope, located in New South Wales, Australia, has undergone a remarkable technical journey.

  • Commissioning: Originally commissioned in 1961 with a steel mesh surface.
  • Major Upgrade: The surface was upgraded in 1970 to more sensitive perforated aluminium panels.
  • Current Sensitivity: Through subsequent upgrades, the telescope is now reported to be 10,000 times more sensitive than it was during the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing.
  • Cooling System: To achieve this sensitivity, the telescope's radio receivers are cryogenically cooled to approximately minus 270 degrees Celsius (3 Kelvin) to reduce electronic interference.
  • Physical Dimensions: The dish is 64 metres in diameter and weighs 1,000 tonnes.
  • Operation: The facility can be operated remotely via the internet.

A Storied Mission History

The Parkes telescope has a long and celebrated history of supporting space exploration.

It provided critical communications support for the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. Beyond this famous event, it has tracked missions to Venus (1962), Mars, and Jupiter and has even intercepted signals from comets.

Supporting the Artemis Era

The telescope maintains an active role in contemporary space missions.

For NASA's Artemis missions, primary tracking is handled by the global Deep Space Network. The Parkes telescope acts as a supporting asset. Its support role includes facilitating high-speed data downloads. For the upcoming Artemis II mission, this data will include biomedical and navigation information from the crew.

Australia is an original signatory to the Artemis Accords, the international agreement governing the program.

Preparing for the Lunar Future

Looking ahead, the Parkes telescope is involved in testing and demonstrating advanced network capabilities. These capabilities are considered necessary for proposed future lunar infrastructure, including permanent moon bases and lunar navigation systems.